Why can't I make my own nursing necklace?

Although it would seem very easy to just make your own nursing necklace since it’s really just some plastic beads strung on string, it seems very easy and hey, thousands are made at summer camp every year! But if you’re concerned about safety, it is better purchase from a reputable supplier.. Good suppliers have put a lot of research before attempting to make their necklaces. Not only safety, which is everyone’s #1 concern but also what babies need to keep their attention because, let’s face it, if they’re bored then the necklace is useless.

Let’s start with safety…

Each necklace should have a safety bead (used as the clasp) that “pops” open if the baby yanks on the necklace hard enough without breaking it. Then simply “pop” it back into place again! These are more practical than a magnetic clasp because they do not release nearly as easily and mommy won’t have to struggle with putting it back on over and over with each yank while baby is feeding.

    * The cord typically used (not string or wire) that each necklace is strung on is Spectra Fiber (c), a hi-tech material that is naturally waterproof and resists 100% of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet radiation. It is 10 times stronger than steel, with superior abrasion resistance so baby can twirl, spin and rub those beads back and forth as much as she’d like without worry about wearing it down.

    * The beads… only plastic beads are used. There are an unbelievable amount of gorgeous glass beads out there that would look perfect on these necklaces but a good supplier won't use them simply because they break and chip leaving a jagged edge that mom may not see and do not use wooden beads because they tend to splinter over time, again leaving sharp edges that are no fun for little fingers

Now the fun part…

NEWBORN PEEPERS - A newborn baby to approximately 3 months of age can only see shadows and very high contrasting shapes like a simple happy face :). Then at the 3 month mark the first color they start to see is RED.

COLOR IT! Most like to use as many fun colors, textures, sizes and shapes that they can in each necklace. They say you should read to your baby from day #1 so they learn to love learning from the start. If reading to your baby can do that, imagine what a nursing necklace filled with a rainbow of colors, and feeling smooth, or bumpy beads between little fingers at each feeding would do. Wonderful for their cognitive and tactile development! The amount of beads that you would need to buy to have a good variety to keep his interest is, well lets just say, a lot…

PERSONALIZE IT! A few suppliers are able to offer personalization so you can put a meaningful phrase or your baby's name on the necklace making it that much more of a keepsake long after the nursing relationship is complete.

DIAPER DISTRACTION - Any parent or caregiver that has ever tried to diaper a baby that’s learning how to roll, crawl or even worse… walk knows how hard it is to get a diaper on! Especially if you’ve got them on one of those fold-down thingies in Wal Mart or a restaurant and the belt is broken and it’s a long way down for them to fall so you’ve got one hand on their torso holding them down and the other is trying to position the diaper under the constantly moving butt. I am going through this right now and it’s not easy! Wearing your nursing necklace are great to keep your cutie’s (like all of these nicknames I’m using?) interest in one place while you hurry to fasten the belts!